Conveyer system



May 14, 1929. J, COWLEY 1,712,872

CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed Jan. S, 1928 Olmes Cowei PATE JAMES T. 'WLIEY, Uit?" SYRACUSF, NEW Ytltllt, ASSIGNUR T0 THE ELAMISN CMPAN'EQ till? SYRACUSE, NEW WGBH, A. CRPORATLON 01E' MASSCHUSETT.

NVETIER SYSTEM.

application tiled January ti, 192%.

, rllhis invention relates to a certain new and improved conveyer system.

rll`he main object ot the invention is the production ot an elticient and comparatively t simple conveyer system in which a greatly increased number ot' discharge or deflection points can be utilized, thereby substantially increasing the capacity of the apparatus for delivering goods to varied points.

An embodiment of the invention is here illustrated in the form ol a belt conveyer having various stations into which articles to be conveyed may be selectively deflected, and it willbe obvious that the invention has various other adaptations and uses.,. and by the expression an article to be conveyed as used herein is meant any boit, container, pilot car,l or article which carries contact members for actuating the apparatus at a discharge station.

lln the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device in position on a conveyer.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure Il is a section on line M, Figure 3.

It will be understood that my device may be used on many different types of automatic conveyers, but for the purpose of describing the manner in which my device operates I have shown it in position on a belt conveyer with the detlector in position to deflect articles troni the belt 4eonveyer to a gravity side track.

rlllie structure shown consists of a belt conveyer -lhaving longitudinally extending side members -2- and 3 supported from the ground in any convenient way although tlie means of support is not here shown. A series of rollers- 4-4 indicated in dotted lines on Figure 1 are rotatably journaled in side members -`-2 and- -3`- in similar journal boxes 5-5 and are positioned in the proper spaced relation to support a moving belt 6-. A section of gravity conveyer -47- is positioned adjacent conveyer 1- and extends outwardly .therefrom at an angle to permit the diversion on to it by my deflector ot articles being transported on belt -6-.

The detlector itself consists of a cross bar -7- pivotally mounted at one end on an upright tubular member 8- which is supported on side'member -Q-T. Cross bar 7-- is positioned at a point )ust abovel the Serial No. altfl.

top of belt 6- so that when moved across conveyer -l it will be in the path of inerchaiidise being transported on belt G. Alt-ie rod -9- extends troni the top portion ot upright member -8- to the outer end ofthe detlector for the purpose ot holdingdeliector 7M at all times in a horizontal position. A crank 10- extends outwardly 'from the upper end oi upright member n8- and respectively. A tubular ineinbeil -21 connects the lower ends o'lE depending members -1'7- and 1S- 'lubular member -21- is provided with a series, 1n this case shown as twelve, of openings 2Q-#2 tlierethrough and has iii its iiiterior a plurality, in this case shown as thirteen, of balls 23-23 which are retained therein by means of plugs 2stand -25- lhe end of shaft -15- which is on the same side ot conveyer -1- as upright member -8 carries a depending ci'ank arm -QG- secured to shaft -15- h v means ot set screw -2'. The crank arni w*12G- is connected to crank arm -10 by means ot link 2S- so that when the sha'lt -15- is rotated the crank arin 2(5* will be moved forward and crank arm -1()- through lilik *2S- will also be moved forward which will cause upright member 8- to rotate and move de llector T across coiiveyer -1- until it is in position to deflect the merchandise being transported on belt -G- on to gravity section -47-.

The rotation of shaft 15- is accom plished in the following manner: itctuating members *2Q-and -30- are pivotally mounted on shaft -15 and are held in spaced relation intermediate member -17-' and 18 by means ot' collars 31- and -32--- Actuating members 2Q-- and 30 are similar in construction and a description of one will be a description of both.

Actuating member *29'* consists of a curved arm -33- which extends downwardly around and below tubular member -l6 and carries an offset end -34- extending downwardly towards belt -6. Actuatmg member -29- also carries an intermedlate arm -35- 'which extends forwardly .and'is so positioned and of such size that 1t will register with an opening -22- and 1f such opening is unobstructed may pass therethrough. Similarly actuating member -30- carries a similar arm which registers with another opening --22-. Balls 2S- are of such a size with reference to the length of member -16- and are so positioned with reference to openings -22-, that if a single arm -35-, of either actuating member 29- or actuating member -30, is moved forward into its registering opening -22- the balls 23kn adjacent such opening -22- will separate a sufficient distance so that the arm -35 may pass through member -16- without affecting its position. If, however, arms *435-235- of both actuating members -29- and 80- are moved forward towards their registering openings 22-22 balls 2S-23* adjacent such openings 22-22 can not be separated suiliciently to admit arms -35-35- into openings 22-22 and a further forward movement of sucharms -35-35- will cause member -16- to move forwardly and upwardly, and this movement of member 16- will cause the rotation of shaft -15- and deilector -7 will be moved across conveyer -1- in the manner just described.

The forward movement of actuating member 29 and -30-, carrying their respective arms .S5-85, is accomplished in the following manner: The merchandise conveyers -36-- in which merchandise is transported are preferably boxes carrying on their forward end in the upper side thereof a series, in `'this case shown as twelve, of holes 37-37- in spaced relation extending transversely of conveyer 1. I provide a plurality of pins -38- which may be placed in any selected holes 37-37 and which are of a size and shape so that when the merchandise conveyerA -36- moves forwardly along belt -6- a pin 3S- will contact with the offset end -34 of actuating member -29 provided it has been placed in a hole B7- which is in line with offset member -34.

yIt will be understood that if a pin -38 is placed in a hole 37v so that it will contact with offset member 311- of actuating member -29- and another pin -38- has been placed in another hole -37- so that it will contact with oifsetmember E34-f of actuating member 30 then when pins 38-38 contact with actuating members -29- and -30- arms 35-35 will be carried forward into contact with member -16- to cause rotation of shaft l5- and the consequent movement across conveyer -1- of del'lector -7-.

On the other hand if two pins 38-38 are placed in position in holes 3?37 so that one pin -38- will. contact with actuating member w29* but the other pin --38- is in a hole where it cannot contact with actuating member -30- then in that case actuating member 29- only will be moved forward and inasmuch as under these conditions the arm -35- on actuating member -29- is permitted to move forward through its registering opening -22- in member -16- no movement will be imparted to member -l6 and the merchandise conveyer -36- will pass forward under actuating member -29- and -30- without causing the movement of-switch -7-. After the pin 38 has passed out of contact with actuating member --29-, actuating member -29- by gravity will' return to its original position.

It will be understood that each switch positioned along conveyer -1- will have actuating members -29- and 30- disposed in a different relation to each other and to the holes 37-37 in the merchandise conveyers 36- so that the operator may insert pins 38-38 in whatever combination or holes 37-37 he may desire and predetermine which set of actuating members -29 and 30- will be simultaneously moved by pins -38-38 By this arrangement a Very large number of combinations can be made so that although provision in merchandise conveyers 36-36 is only for a series of, for instance, twelve holes 37-87 which in conveyers of this type heretofore known would permit the selected actuation of only twelve deflectors, my device permits of combinations and thus permits the selective actuation of sixty-six defiectors.

lt will be understood that the type of merchandise conveyer used is immaterial as it is only necessary to provide a merchandise conveyer which is capable of carrying a plurality of pins in upright position. It will also be understood that three or more actuating members similar to actuating members 29 and --30- may be provided for the actuation of an individual defleetor in which case, of course, three or more pins 38-38 would be carried by merchandise conveyers 36-36, and by increasing the number of actuating members and the relation of balls 23-23 to member 16 it would be possible to actuatc a very much greater number of deflectors without increasing the number of pin holes 37-37 in merchandise conveyers 36-36.

It will also be understood that my operating device may be applied to any type of deflector which is to be mechanically moved across a conveyer and also that my device may be used on any type of conveyer along which merchandise containers are transported, for although I have shown and described a specific structure and form of part an cxemplilication of one form of my device, I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact shape, form or relation of parts as various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, an article to be conveyed, a deflector movable across the conveyer, a plurality of contact members carried by the article to be conveyed, and an operating member for actuating the deflector when contacted by the contact members.

In a device of the class described, a conveycr, an article to be conveyed, a, defiector movable across the conveyor, a plurality of contact members carried bythe article to be conveyed, an operating member for actuating the dellector when contacted by the contact members, and means whereby the operating member will remain inoperative when contacted by less than all roit the contact members'.

3. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, an article to be conveyed, a plurality of contact members carried by such article, a d-eiiector movable across the conveyor, an operating member for actuating the defleetor, a plurality of rock arms carried by the operi ating member and disposed inthe path of said contact members, and means whereby the operating member will be made operative when the rock arms are sin'iultaneously contacted by the contact members.

4. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, an article to be conveyed, a plurality of contact members carried by such article, a detleetor movable across the conveyer, an operating member tor actuating the dcflector, a plurality of rock arms carried by the operating member and disposed in 'the path ot said contact members, means Whereby the operating member `will be made operative when the rock arms are simultaneously contacted by the contact members, and additional means whereby the operating member will remain inoperative when less than all ot the rock arms are contacted by Contact members.

5. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, an article to be conveyed, means for placing a plurality of contact members on said article, defiectors movable across the conveyer, operating members for actuating the deflectors, means operable in advance whereby an operator may cause a selected detlector to be operated by placing a plurality of contact members on the article to be conveyed.

G. In a device of the class described, a conveyer, an article being conveyed, a plurality of contact members carried by such article, a deflcctor movable across the con veyer, an operating member for actuating the conveyor, a plurality of rock arms carried by the operating member and disposed in the paths of the contact members, means whereby the operating member will be 'made operative when the rock arms are contacted by the contact members, and means whereby the operating member will remain inoperative when less than the Whole number of rock arms is contacted by contact members, said means including a tubular member operatively connected to the operating member and having openings therethrough registering with the rock arms, and a plurality of balls disposed in the tubular member and movable therein, such balls being of a size whereby they will move trom the path of. the rock arms to permit their passage through the tubular member when less than the whole number of rock arms is moved towards the tubular member, but which the balls are of such a size that when the whole number of rock arms is moved towards the tubularmember the balls will close the openings through the tubular member so that it will be carried forward by the rock arms.

7. A conveyor system comprising a conveyor, 'a rock shaft, a plurality of trip arms mounted on the rock shaft, an article to be conveyed, a plurality ot' contact members carried by Isaid article, and additional mechanism actuated by the rocking of said shaft when a plurality of contact members come into contact with respective trip arms.

In witness whereoi2 I have hereunto set my hand this th day ot January, i928.

JAMES T. CWLEY. 

